It got to be a guessing game

 

            She’d never say outright

            Whether she favoured or despised

            My qualities

 

            Which meant that I relied on cues,

            Felt for vibes, dealt in innuendo,

            Listened to my gut

            And made adjustments

            On the fly

            Without a litmus test

            In sight

 

            I couldn’t even call it

            Trial and error

            Because I just kept going on

            Until I reached the point

            Where looking in the mirror,

            Which hadn’t been too bad before,

            Became a positive delight

 

            It really was a shame

            She didn’t stick around to

            Celebrate

 

            Apparently

            She wished her men to be

            Both less imaginative

            And more

            Vertebrate